March 15, 2013 -- Missouri Foxtrotting horses

Guesting on Ernie Rodino's "Better Horses" radio show this past Sunday morning on KCMO 710 AM was quite the treat for Ruth and I. We got to spend an hour expounding on the virtues of the Missouri foxtrotting horses, a breed that we've enjoyed experiencing for nearly 30 years.

With Big 12 Tournament Week underway in Kansas City, there is a lot of basketball fever in town. It's the real start of March Madness. But to those of us who are dyed-in-the-wool Mizzou fans, there is something horribly missing as the teams take to the hardwood.

As you probably know, I receive lots of requests from organizations, civic groups, and community gatherings to give talks at their meetings. I am always thrilled to try to oblige on a first come-first serve basis.

Ernie is a longtime friend and a longtime Purina executive who is involved in providing feed for horses of all breeds throughout the Midwest. He and his listeners were interested in learning some of the finer details about the Missouri foxtrotter.

Ruth explained the smooth diagonal gait of the Missouri foxtrotting horse. She said buyers should select horses that carefully match the needs and personality of the buyer. Some horses and some horse people don't get along with each other. That should be thoroughly tested before a horse is purchased.

I'm serving as the 2013 announcer for the Three-Year-old Futurity in June and the World Foxtrotter Show and celebration in September. Both are held in Ava, Mo. I pointed out on the radio show that you don't choose a horse for its color. There are more things important for the selection of your showing, trail riding, or performance horse.

The smooth gait of the Missouri foxtrotter, Ruth said, is a big reason she is not living in a wheelchair. She was diagnosed with transverse myelitis seven years ago caused by a flu shot. She remains paralyzed from the lowest rib to the tip of her toes. Without riding horses, she admits, she would likely be in a wheelchair by now.

I recounted the story of a youngster several years ago who dreamed of having a horse. He had extreme autism and had never spoken a word in his life. As members of the Dream Factory, we arranged for a foxtrotting horse to be delivered to him with continuing care. He mounted the horse and as he rode down the driveway, he looked back and shouted, "Larry, look at me now!" In his 11 years, he had never spoken a word before.

Live radio was a great opportunity to talk about the smooth-riding qualities of the Missouri foxtrotting horse that attracted country doctors years ago when they sought to make house calls in the hills of south Missouri. Today, they've caught the attention of countless park rangers who use them on patrol in the nation's national parks.